There’s always something that needs tending to around the average home: that painting that you bought but never hung up, that tap that drips forever after you’ve turned it off, the jungle that used to be a garden. While you’re always going to have some jobs around the house on your to-do list, there are certain issues you really can’t afford to ignore. Here are just a few of them.

Heated Water that Comes and Goes

Boilers are an extremely important component in our homes, yet most people forget to get it serviced on a regular enough basis. This is totally understandable when you think about it. It’s almost always tucked away in some cupboard we never use, and we’re not going to see any of its warning lights in passing. If you have faucets in your home which take forever to heat up, or your morning shower suddenly gets cold for a few seconds every now and then, it could be the sign of a more dangerous issue. This is one of the most relied-on appliances you own, so don’t leave it until your boiler actually stops working! Repairs and replacements cost hundreds, but if you neglect them, it can leave you without heating and hot water when you need it most.

Mildew and Mold in the Bathroom

If you’ve got one little patch of your bathroom where mold always seems to appear, then it could be the sign of a hidden leak somewhere in your plumbing. Moist, dark areas are perfect for mold, and the pipes in your wall or under your flooring are the perfect starting point for its spores if it springs a leak. It’s normal for a little mold and mildew to gather in the corner of a shower, but if you’re finding mold and mildew on walls and floors far away from your shower, it could be worth looking up some local leak detection services. The longer it takes for you to detect and repair a leak, the easier and faster the mold will grow. A lot of people put off leaks even when they identify them, simply because they haven’t seen any visible damage. However, if a leak leads to enough water damage in your walls, paint and flooring, it can cost much more than the plumber’s fee!

Poor Security

Your home’s probably the most expensive thing you’ll ever own, and obviously you want to keep it as secure as possible. To this end, you need to be keeping on top of the seemingly small security habits that a lot of people neglect. This includes checking your exterior windows for rust on a regular basis, along with any cracks and rot that could make them easier to force open. You should also change the locks whenever you move into a new home, as you never know who has copies of the old key. It’s also a good idea to update any locks that are old, and possibly ineffective against the tools burglars will use to force them.